Brown Noddy

Anous stolidus

The
Brown Noddy is a tern species of the tropics, with a distribution that
stretches across both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. In the
North American part of their range, they are most known for a breeding
colony at Dry Tortugas in Florida. They are the largest and most
widespread of the three Noddy species.

Habitat: Worldwide, Brown Noddys are found over
tropical oceans. They nest on tropical islands, but in most seasons,
are often far out at sea. They are rarely found in sight of the
mainland continents.

Diet: Feeds on small fish.

Behavior: Forages by dipping down from flight to
capture fish at or just belowthe surface. They will also plunge-dive
underwater for short distances in pursuit of fish.

Nesting: In the North American part of its range,
the nest is typically built in a cactus or cedar tree, and consists of a
stick platform with seawood or pebbles as lining. Nesting birds often
return to the same nest year after year, with nests building in size each
successive year. Both the male and female will help to incubate the
eggs. Both parent feed and tend to the young after they hatch.

Song: Brown Noddys have a variety of calls, most
of which are harsh grunts or wheezes.

Migration: The Brown Noddy has an extremely wide
distribution globally, found in much of the tropics of both the Eastern and
Western Hemisphere. Their movements within that range are poorly
understood, including movements in and around the United States.
Breeding populations in the tropics are often present in all seasons.
For populations in the subtropics, birds disperse after the breeding season.